This week, I present to you a game played by Mark Plotkin, a member of Canada's second team at the World u16 Olympiad. In this game, he opted for a solid setup against an IM from Ukraine, and gradually took the initiative. Enjoy.
[Event "World u16 Olympiad"]
[Site "Gyor, Hungary"]
[Date ""]
[Round “01"]
[White “Volodymyr, V"]
[Black “Plotkin, M"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E08"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c6 4. g3 d5 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O { We are currently seeing the Catalan setup. Black opts for a solid continuation, which allows both players to place their pieces on natural squares. Typically, White will put his Queen to c2, Rook to d1, Bishop to f4, and may consider breaking with e4 at some point if Black chooses to leave the central tension. On the other hand, black develops his bishop to b7, and is planning on equalizing with a c5 break.} 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. Rd1 b6 9. Bf4 Bb7 10. Nc3 dxc4 { Clarifying the central tension, however this pawn on c4 will be easily recaptured.} 11. Nd2 Nd5 ( 11... b5 12. Nxb5 ) 12. Nxc4 b5 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 { I don't really like this move. It seems much more logical to recapture with the bishop, and since Black will be unable to break with c5, he will stand worse.} 14... Qb6 15. Nxd5 cxd5 { Black already stands better. White's bishops are misplaced and Black gets fast play on the queenside.} 16. Be3 Qa5 17. a3 Rfc8 18. Qd3 Rc4 19. Bd4 Rac8 20. e3 a6 21. f4 g6 22. g4 Qc7 23. f5 Bc5 24. f6 { With the Black pieces covering the f8 square, he is in absolutely no danger.} 24... h6 25. Rd2 b4 26. Rf1 Qb6 27. Rf3 a5 { Activating the b7 bishop. A simple glance at the postion shows that each black piece is much better then White's.} 28. axb4 axb4 29. Bf1 Ba6 30. Bxc5 R8xc5 31. Kf2 b3 32. Be2 Rc2 *
